Personal computer peripheral device adapter

ABSTRACT

An adapter to connect either Type I or Type II cards into a PCMCIA compliant PC Card interface on a personal computer. A protective shutter mechanism receives both Type I and Type II cards.

BACKGROUND

[0001] The invention relates to adapters for connecting devices topersonal computers.

[0002] To expand the capacity and functional capability of portablelaptops, computers, and other types of electronic devices, manufacturersdeveloped “plug-in” peripheral cards containing circuits and devicessuch as memories and modems.

[0003] Because of the many possible methods of constructing theinterface between a computer and a peripheral card device, standardswere developed by the Personal Computer Memory Card InternationalAssociation (“PCMCIA”), Japan Electronic Data Interchange Council(“JEDIC”), International Organization for Standardization (“ISO”),Compact Flash Association (“CFA”), and others. Standards for PC Cards(formerly called PCMCIA Cards) require that they have a length ofapproximately 85 mm, a width of 54 mm, and a maximum thickness of 5 mm.

[0004] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,891 (the '891 Patent),incorporated herein by reference, discloses a housing for such a PCcard, and a process for making same. The housing disclosed in the '891Patent meets standards defined in the PCMCIA CompactFlash SpecificationRevision 2.1.1, incorporated herein by reference.

[0005] Following the introduction of PC cards, small flash memorydevices, often referred to as CompactFlash™ cards, were introduced foruse with personal electronic products, such as digital cameras andcellular phones. In keeping with the trend of developing smallerdevices, CompactFlash cards were even smaller in size than PC Cards. Oneformat for CompactFlash cards was promulgated by the CFA. A card withthis format, which will be referred to as a Type I card, has anapproximate length of 36 mm, an approximate width of 42 mm, and anapproximate thickness of 3.3 mm. Type I cards were originally intendedfor use with products other than personal computers. Therefore, toconnect a Type I card to a personal computer, an adaptor providing aPCMCIA interface at one end and an interface for the Type I card at theother end is used. These adapters will be referred to as Type Iadapters. The Type I adapter plugs into the personal computer interfacefor PC Cards and the Type I card plugs into the Type I adapter.

[0006] More recently, a new format for CompactFlash cards that differsfrom the form factor of a Type I card has been proposed. A card withthis new format, which will be referred to as a Type II card, has thesame width and length as a Type I card but is thicker than the Type Icard. In fact, Type II cards are as thick as PC Cards and Type 1Adapters. Due to its thickness, the Type II card does not fit inside astandard PC Card housing or a Type I adapter. Consequently, the Type IIcard cannot be used with the Type I adapters currently used with Type Icards.

[0007] It may be noted that the position of the Type II card socketholes and pins with respect to the bottom of the card is the same asthat for the Type I card. Therefore, the Type II card's socket holes areoffset from its center toward the bottom of the card on account of theType II card's increased thickness.

[0008] Type II cards have grooves, approximately 1.0-1.2 mm deep, 36.4mm long, and 1.7 mm high, running along the two side walls thatcorrespond to the grooves running along the side walls of the Type Icard. The grooves on the Type II card are offset toward the bottom ofthe card.

[0009] Standards covering the Type II card have been proposed. Theseproposed standards require that Type II cards have a thickness of nomore than 5 mm, and that the center line of the holes be approximately 1mm above the bottom of the Type II card.

SUMMARY

[0010] The invention provides an adapter configured to connect both TypeI and Type II cards into a PCMCIA compliant PC Card interface on apersonal computer. More specifically, the invention provides aprotective shutter mechanism adapted to receive both Type I and Type IIcards.

[0011] In one aspect, the invention is directed to an apparatuscomprising a header and a shutter. The header has a front face, two sidewalls extending from the header front face, and male connector pinsextending from the header front face substantially parallel to the sidewalls. The inner surface of each side wall includes a guide rail. Theshutter has a front face, a rear face, two sides with grooves slidablyengaging the guide rails, a planar sheet projecting from an edge of theshutter rear face, and a plurality of holes extending from the shutterfront face to the shutter rear face and corresponding to the maleconnector pins.

[0012] Implementations of the invention may include the following. Aconnector pin may be secured to the shutter and may extend through andslidably engage an aperture through the header. The planar sheet mayinclude a lip to limit forward motion of the shutter by engaging theheader, and the lip may be located on a tab extending from the planarsheet. A spring may bias the shutter away from the header. The holes inthe shutter may be offset from the center toward the bottom of theshutter. A shroud may be connected to the shutter opposite the planarsheet, and a flange may run along a top and a bottom of the shutterfront face. The apparatus may also include a frame having opposing siderails forming a bay at one end, a female connector disposed in an end ofthe frame opposite the bay, and an electrical connection between thefemale connector and the male connector pins in the header. The headermay be disposed between the bay and the female connector, and the holesof the shutter may face the bay. The female and male connectors mayconform to PCMCIA standards.

[0013] In another aspect, the invention is directed to a dual modeadapter comprising a female connector, a male connector having aplurality of pins, an electrical connection between the female connectorand the male connector, a shield for covering the pins in the maleconnector, and a housing for supporting the female connector, maleconnector and shield. The shield has a planar sheet with a lip and aplurality of holes corresponding to the pins in the male connector andis slidably engaged to the male connector. The housing defines a bay atthe end of the adaptor opposite the female connector.

[0014] In another aspect, the invention is directed to a kit comprisinga header and a shutter. The header has a front face, two side wallsextending from the header front face, and male connector pins extendingfrom the header front face substantially parallel to the side walls. Theinner surface of each side wall includes a guide rail. The shutter has afront face, a rear face, two sides with grooves configured to slidablyengage the guide rails, a planar sheet projecting from an edge of theshutter rear face, and a plurality of holes extending from the shutterfront face to the shutter rear face and corresponding to the maleconnector pins.

[0015] In another aspect, the invention is directed to an apparatus foradapting a CompactFlash compatible electronic device to a PCMCIAcompatible male connector. The apparatus comprises a PCMCIA compatiblefemale connector, a CompactFlash compatible male connector, anelectrical connection between the female connector and the maleconnector, and a housing supporting the male connector and the femaleconnector. The housing has a top, a bottom, and a thickness between thetop and the bottom that is essentially the maximum thickness thatcomplies with the PCMCIA standard, and the male connector has pinsarranged and the housing is configured to enable connection of either atype 1 or a type 2 CompactFlash electronic device to the male connector.

[0016] Implementation of the invention may include the following. Thehousing may include a bay which spans the full thickness of the housingand which spans enough of the width of the housing to accommodate thewidth of a CompactFlash-compatible electronic device. A CompactFlashType 1-compatible or Type-2 compatible electronic device may be heldfully within the bay, the CompactFlash device having a female connectormated with the male connector. The apparatus may include a shuttermovable relative to the housing from a first position in which the pinsare exposed for connection to a female connector to a second position inwhich the pins are protected.

[0017] In another aspect, the invention is directed to an apparatuscomprising a connector assembly and a housing for the connectorassembly. The connector assembly is configured to enable connection ofeither a type 1 or a type 2 CompactFlash electronic device to a PCMCIAcompatible interface of a personal computer, and the housing has a top,a bottom, and a thickness between the top and the bottom that isessentially the maximum thickness that complies with the PCMCIAstandard.

[0018] Among the advantages of the invention are one or more of thefollowing. The dual mode adapter can be used with both Type I and TypeII cards. The dual mode adapter shutter protects the male connector pinsfrom damage when they are not engaged. The shutter and its lockingmechanism are an integrated unitary piece, and as such, the dual modeadapter contains few parts and is unlikely to break. The dual modeadapter is easily and economically manufactured. The dual mode adapteris inexpensive, yet provides sufficient structural integrity in anaesthetically pleasing package.

[0019] Other features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020]FIG. 1A is a top view of an assembled dual mode adapter.

[0021]FIG. 1B is a side view of an assembled dual mode adapter.

[0022]FIG. 1C is an exploded perspective view of a dual mode adapter.

[0023]FIG. 1D is a perspective view, partially cross-sectional, of anassembled dual mode adapter.

[0024]FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the header.

[0025]FIG. 3 is a detailed view of one embodiment of the shutter.

[0026]FIG. 4 is a detailed view of another embodiment of the shutter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Referring to FIG. 1A-1D, a dual mode adapter 10 has two covers101, 102, a frame 103 having a bay 104, a female connector 105, a header106 having male connector pins 107, an electrical connection 108 betweenfemale connector 105 and header 106, a shutter 109, and two compressionsprings 110. When assembled, dual mode adapter 10 has a width and heightconforming to PCMCIA standards set for PC Card devices. Namely, asassembled, the adapter has a length of approximately 85 mm, a width ofapproximately 54 mm, and is no more than approximately 5 mm thick.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1C, covers 101, 102 may be substantiallyrectangular in shape and may be stamped from metal or formed fromplastic material. The covers 101, 102 serve to protect the internalcomponents of dual mode adapter 10. Covers 101, 102 are connected toframe 103 along their longer sides. In one embodiment, frame 103includes two opposing side rails 117 to hold covers 101, 102 together.In another embodiment, side rails 117 of frame 103 may be held togetherby a pair of ribs (not shown) that intersect side rails 117 at an angle.

[0029] Frame 103 serves to hold covers 101, 102 together and supportfemale connector 105, electrical connection 108, header 106, and shutter109 between covers 101, 102. Side rails 117 of frame 103 form bay 104 inthe front half of dual mode adapter 10. The dimensions of bay 104 aresuch that a Type I or Type II card conforming to CFA standards can slideinto bay 104 and connect to header 106 through shutter 109. The frame103, side rails 117 and ribs, if present, may be a unitary body formedfrom any suitable material.

[0030] Female connector 105 conforms to PCMCIA standards and is locatedat the end of the assembled dual mode adapter opposite bay 104. Theouter face 123 of female connector 105 is rectangular and has holes 118complying with PCMCIA standards to attach the dual mode adapter to apersonal computer. The top and bottom edges of the outer face of femaleconnector 105 each have a flange 119. When assembled, the edges ofcovers 101, 102 meet flanges 119 to encase all of female connector 105except holes 118 in the body of dual mode adapter 10. This protectsusers from the sharp edges of covers 101, 102. The inner face of femaleconnector 105 is electrically coupled to header 106 by electricalconnection 108. Electrical connection 108 may be formed by any suitablemedium, such as a printed circuit board (illustrated) or cables (notshown).

[0031] With reference to FIG. 2, header 106 has a rectangular front face201 and two side walls which extend perpendicularly from the edges offront face 201 toward bay 104. Male connector pins 107 (only arepresentative sample of pins is shown), which conform to PCMCIAstandards, project from front face 201 toward the front end of dual modeadapter 10. The side walls 111 are parallel to and longer than the maleconnecting pins. The inner surface of each side wall 111 has a guiderail 112. In addition, a knob 113 may extrude from the outer surface ofeach side wall 111 to fit within a corresponding slot 120 in frame 103(see FIG. 1C).

[0032] Header 106 also includes two header apertures 202 (only one isshown in this perspective view) that extend from front face 201 to theback face of header 106. One aperture is located between male connectorpins 107 and each side wall 111. Once the dual mode adapter isassembled, header 106 is located in the mid-section of frame 103 withmale connection pins 107 facing bay 104 and its back face attached toelectrical connector 108. Header 106 may be a unitary piece made ofplastic material.

[0033] With reference to FIG. 3, shutter 109 is generally rectangular inshape. A thin flange 303 runs along the top and bottom edges of a frontsurface 304 of the shutter. When dual mode adapter 10 is assembled and aCompactFlash card is connected, covers 101, 102 are placed againstflanges 303 to encase shutter 109 and protect consumers from the sharpedges of covers 101, 102.

[0034] The shutter 109 includes two grooves 301 which run along theouter surface of each side 306 of shutter 109. Grooves 301 mate withheader guide rails 112 to slidably connect shutter 109 to header 106(see FIG. 1C). In addition, two shutter apertures 302 are formed in aback face 305 of the shutter, and may extend through the shutter to thefront face 304.

[0035] Returning to FIG. 1C, two connector pins 116 are attached toshutter 109 and extend toward the back of the dual mode adapter. Theconnector pins 116 may be inserted into and frictionally secured in twoshutter apertures 302. When shutter 109 is slidably connected to header106 so that connector pins 116 extend into header apertures 202. Theheader apertures 202 are wider than connecting pins 116 so thatconnecting pins 116 slidably engage header 106. The compression springs110, which are held in place by connector pins 116, bias shutter 109away from front face 201 of header 106.

[0036] Shutter 109 also includes holes 121, corresponding in number andlocation with male connector pins 107, which extend through the shutterbody from front face 304 to back face 305. In one embodiment, holes 121may be offset from the center of shutter 109. For example, the centerline of the bottom row of holes 121 may be approximately 1 mm abovebottom surface 305. With this offset, both Type I and Type II cards canbe used with the dual mode adapter 10. This offset, however, may not berequired for other embodiments. Holes 121 are spaced to coincide withmale connector pins 107 when shutter 109 and header 106 are engaged.

[0037] A relatively thin planar sheet 114 is connected to the top backedge of shutter 109. A lip 115 extends along a rim of planar sheet 114.Shutter 109, including holes 121, planar surface 114, flanges 303 andgrooves 301, may be an integrated unitary piece formed from plasticmaterial.

[0038] When bay 104 is empty, compression springs 110 urge shutter 109into its forwardmost position so that planar sheet 114 covers andprotects male connector pins 107. When a Type I or II card is insertedinto bay 104, shutter 109 is forced back so that planar sheet 114 slipsbetween cover 101 and electrical connection 108 and male connector pins107 extend through holes 121 to engage the card. When the Type I or IIcard is removed, compression springs 110 force shutter 109 forward overmale connector pins 107. The lip 115 engages the bottom rear edge ofheader 106 to limit the forward motion of shutter 109 and lock theshutter in place (see FIG. 1D). When shutter 109 is in its forwardmostposition, the tips of male connector pins 107 are protected by the bodyof shutter 109, and planar sheet 114 covers one side of the unengagedmale connector pins 107.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 3, lip 115 may be located along the edge ofplanar sheet 114. Alternately, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1D, the planarsheet may include two tabs 122 that project toward header 106. Each taphas a lip 115 along the edge of the tab.

[0040]FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the shutter that includes ashroud 401. The shroud 401 is connected to the lower edge of shutter 109and is disposed in a generally parallel arrangement with planar sheet114. Shroud 401 is very thin and may be formed of nylon, Mylar, standardor engineering grade thermal plastic material, thermoset material, orthe like. When a Type I or II card is inserted into bay 104, springs 116are compressed and shutter 109 and shroud 401 slide toward header 106 sothat shroud 401 slips between cover 102 and electrical connection 108.The motion of shutter 109 stops when the rear face of shutter 109contacts the front face of header 106. When the card is removed andshutter 109 is urged by compression springs 110 into its forwardmostposition, shroud 401 slides out to cover and protect the side of maleconnector pins 107 opposite planar sheet 114.

[0041] Although Type II cards are thicker than Type I cards, either aType I or Type II card can fit in the bay 104 formed by frame 103. Inaddition, since the location of the connection socket with respect toits bottom surface is the same for both Type I and Type II cards, bothType I and Type II cards will engage the offset male connector pinswhich extend through the offset holes in the shutter. Thus, dual modeadapter 10 is capable of connecting to either a Type I or Type II cardand conforms to PCMCIA standards.

[0042] Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.For example, the embodiments disclosed in the figures and discussedabove show an dual mode adapter and shutter mechanism conforming to thestandards of the CFA. However, some aspects of the invention may applyto dual mode adapters for other small-format devices, including forexample, those complying with the standards of PCMCIA, JEDIC, ISO, andothers. The embodiments illustrated in the figures use springs to pushthe shutter forward when male connector pins are not engaged. However,other resilient materials may be used to bias the shutter away from theheader. Components may be joined by sonic welding, with adhesives, bythe application of heat, by chemical reaction, or by any other suitablemethod. Adhesives useful for joining the components include, forexample, thermosetting resins and thermoplastic resins. Further, dualmode adapter components may be constructed of a variety of injectionmolded plastic materials including, for example, thermoplastic resinssuch as polycarbonate, acrylic and others, and thermosetting resins suchas epoxy, silicone, and others. In each case, care is to be taken tochoose compatible materials for parts to be joined and the joiningsystem.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a header having a frontface, two side walls extending from the header front face, and maleconnector pins extending from the header front face substantiallyparallel to the side walls, the inner surface of each side wallincluding a guide rail; and a shutter having a front face, a rear face,two sides with grooves slidably engaging the guide rails, a planar sheetprojecting from an edge of the shutter rear face, and a plurality ofholes extending from the shutter front face to the shutter rear face andcorresponding to the male connector pins.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,further comprising a connector pin secured to the shutter and extendingthrough and slidably engaged with an aperture through the header.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the planar sheet includes a lip to limitforward motion of the shutter by engaging the header.
 4. The apparatusof claim 1, further comprising a spring for biasing the shutter awayfrom the header.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the lip is on atab extending from the planar sheet.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the holes in the shutter are offset from the center toward thebottom of the shutter.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shutterincludes a shroud connected opposite the planar sheet.
 8. The apparatusof claim 7, wherein a flange runs along a top and a bottom of theshutter front face.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: aframe having opposing side rails forming a bay at one end; a femaleconnector disposed in an end of the frame opposite the bay; and anelectrical connection between the female connector and the maleconnector pins in the header; wherein the header is disposed between thebay and the female connector; and wherein the holes of the shutter facethe bay.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a spring tobias the shutter away from the header.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9,wherein the female and male connectors conform to PCMCIA standards. 12.A dual mode adapter comprising: a female connector; a male connectorhaving a plurality of pins; an electrical connection between the femaleconnector and the male connector; a shield for covering the pins in themale connector, the shield having a planar sheet with a lip and aplurality of holes corresponding to the pins in the male connector, theshield slidably engaged to the male connector; and a housing forsupporting the female connector, male connector and cover piece, thehousing defining a bay at the end of the adaptor opposite the femaleconnector.
 13. A kit comprising: a header having a front face, a rearface, two side walls extending from the header front face, and maleconnector pins extending from the header front face substantiallyparallel to the side walls, the inner surface of each side wallincluding a guide rail; and a shutter having a front face, a rear face,two sides with grooves configured to slidably engage the guide rails, aplanar sheet projecting from an edge of the shutter rear face, and aplurality of holes extending from the shutter front face to the shutterrear face and corresponding to the male connector pins.
 14. The kit ofclaim 13, wherein the planar sheet includes a lip at an edge thereof.15. The kit of claim 14, wherein the planar sheet includes a tab, andthe lip is located at an edge of the tab.
 16. The kit of claim 13,further comprising: means for connecting the header to the shutter; andmeans for biasing the shutter away from the header.
 17. An apparatus foradapting a CompactFlash compatible electronic device to a PCMCIAcompatible male connector comprising: a PCMCIA compatible femaleconnector; a CompactFlash compatible male connector; an electricalconnection between the female connector and the male connector; and ahousing supporting the male connector and the female connector, thehousing having a top, a bottom, and a thickness between the top and thebottom that is essentially the maximum thickness that complies with thePCMCIA standard; wherein the male connector has pins arranged and thehousing is configured to enable connection of either a type 1 or a type2 CompactFlash electronic device to the male connector.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 17, wherein the housing includes a bay which spansthe full thickness of the housing and which spans enough of the width ofthe housing to accommodate the width of a CompactFlash-compatibleelectronic device.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising aCompactFlash Type 1-compatible electronic device held fully within thebay, the CompactFlash Type 1-compatible device having a female connectormated with the male connector.
 20. The apparatus of claim 18, furthercomprising a CompactFlash Type 2-compatible electronic device held fullywithin the bay, the CompactFlash Type 2-compatible device having afemale connector mated with the male connector.
 21. The apparatus ofclaim 18, further comprising a shutter movable relative to the housingfrom a first position in which the pins are exposed for connection to afemale connector to a second position in which the pins are protected.22. An apparatus comprising: a connector assembly configured to enableconnection of either a type 1 or a type 2 CompactFlash electronic deviceto a PCMCIA compatible interface of a personal computer; and a housingfor the connector assembly, the housing having a top, a bottom, and athickness between the top and the bottom that is essentially the maximumthickness that complies with the PCMCIA standard.